Oh, my. No time for details, but just a quick note to say that since three hours after my last post, most of our time has been spent sitting, waiting, wishing in ICU and hoping my stepfather of 30 years will survive – and thrive. How quickly life can change and how hard it hits.

Grandma and Grandpa Bill just a few years back with their oldest grandchild, our son Ben. You can see the pride and love.

Mother has had her back surgery, which went OK for someone with brittle bones. She was the rehab champ and is doing well physically.

Emotionally she’s fragile. She lost my real dad 31 years ago, and now Bill is hanging on by a thread after suddenly collapsing with severe abdominal pain, which tuned out to be dead bowel – I’ll spare you the graphic details, but we’ve had to fight long and hard to get him treated and keep him alive this long.

At Liz’s graduation in Dec. 2010, Mother and Bill are still looking great.

Mother’s surgery was expected and long-awaited. We had it scheduled for Jan. 2. On Dec 29, life turned upside down and we’ve been living at hospitals. During that time, my precious Annabelle turned 2 and Luke 2 months. Today is their 2-year and 2-month checkups, and I can’t help with the appointment, something I would love to be doing.

But right now the parental end of the generations sandwich is the priority. Lots of us boomers are in the same boat.

And now I must get ready to fly back out to the hospital to see what today brings. More later.